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---
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title: "Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen calls on Edmonton to cancel bike lane project"
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source: "https://edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton-bike-lane-devin-dreeshen"
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author:
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- "[[edmontonjournal]]"
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published: 2025-04-18
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created: 2025-05-10
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description: "Dreeshen says the plan to build 30 blocks of bike lanes on the city's north side will have a negative impact on the provincial road network"
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tags:
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- "clippings"
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---
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[Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen calls on Edmonton to cancel bike lane project](https://edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton-bike-lane-devin-dreeshen)
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EDMONTON — Alberta’s transportation minister is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it.
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Devin Dreeshen says the city’s multi-year plan to build 30 blocks of bike lanes on the city’s north side will have a negative impact on the “provincial road network” as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic.
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While the province didn’t contribute any dollars to the nearly $96 million project, Dreeshen says the government provides funding for other municipal roads and he wants more coordination between both levels of government when it comes to transportation.
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Construction began two years ago on the project, which also involves repaving the roadway and replacing sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
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The minister’s call is being met by criticism from advocates and the Opposition NDP.
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Non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton says the minister needs to stay in his own lane and stop interfering in city planning.
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In a statement, Edmonton mayoral candidate Tony Caterina cheered the move.
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As an Edmonton councillor for this ward for many years, I quashed this ill-conceived plan,” Caterina’s statement said.
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“I feel vindicated on my stance now that the Minister sees it my way, along with most Edmontonians.”
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— with files from Postmedia
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@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
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---
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||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
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source: "https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/government/2025/04/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane"
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||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Journal Of Commerce]]"
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||||
published: 2025-04-22
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||||
created: 2025-05-10
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||||
description: "EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.Devin Dreeshen says he's trying"
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||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/government/2025/04/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane)
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Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane
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||||
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||||
EDMONTON — Alberta’s transportation minister is calling on the province’s two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
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Devin Dreeshen says he’s trying to avoid clashes with the government’s goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta’s growing population.
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“When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we’ve seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing,” the minister said in a recent interview.
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“When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities.”
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Dreeshen also said he’s looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
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The minister’s comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
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His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton’s north side.
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Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the “provincial road network,” as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
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While the province didn’t contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
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Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren’t being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
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“Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn’t responsible planning,” Dreeshen said. “It’s a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock.”
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Dreeshen couldn’t provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he’d like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill — two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
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“We haven’t had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side,” he said.
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Dreeshen said he’s looking for signs of “goodwill” from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
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“I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let’s just gauge where we’re at with that first step and go from there,” he said.
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“At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love.”
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Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
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Ontario’s law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
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Dreeshen’s idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
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The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
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“(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs,” the statement said, adding the government is “wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues.”
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NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
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“I don’t know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school,” Kasawski told reporters.
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Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario’s lead is concerning.
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“People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like,” Budnick said.
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“We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It’s really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing.”
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||||
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||||
**©2025 The Canadian Press**
|
||||
|
||||
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@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/national-business/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane-10539792"
|
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author:
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||||
- "[[NewmarketToday.ca]]"
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published: 2025-04-17
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created: 2025-05-10
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description: "EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/national-business/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane-10539792)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dreeshen is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
|
||||
|
||||
EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he's trying to avoid clashes with the government's goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we've seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing," the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he's looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister's comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the "provincial road network," as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn't contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren't being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
"Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn't responsible planning," Dreeshen said. "It's a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn't provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he'd like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill -- two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
"We haven't had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said he's looking for signs of "goodwill" from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
|
||||
|
||||
"I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let's just gauge where we're at with that first step and go from there," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
"At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario's law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen's idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
|
||||
|
||||
The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
|
||||
|
||||
"(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs," the statement said, adding the government is "wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues."
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
"I don't know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school," Kasawski told reporters.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario's lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
"People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like," Budnick said.
|
||||
|
||||
"We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It's really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing."
|
||||
|
||||
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.
|
||||
|
||||
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Looking for National Business News?
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Check out [Village Report](https://www.villagereport.ca/?utm_source=newmarkettoday.ca&utm_campaign=newmarkettoday.ca%3A%20outbound&utm_medium=referral) - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day. Or, subscribe to [Village Report's free daily newsletter](https://www.villagereport.ca/signup?utm_source=newmarkettoday.ca&utm_campaign=newmarkettoday.ca%3A%20outbound&utm_medium=referral): a compilation of the news you need to know, sent to your inbox at 6AM.
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/04/18/alberta-minister-bike-lanes-critics/"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[News Staff]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-18
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, but critics say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/04/18/alberta-minister-bike-lanes-critics/)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dreeshen is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh THE CANADIAN PRESS
|
||||
|
||||
By Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta’s transportation minister is calling on the province’s two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he’s trying to avoid clashes with the government’s goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta’s growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we’ve seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing,” the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he’s looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister’s comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton’s north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the “provincial road network,” as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn’t contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren’t being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
“Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn’t responsible planning,” Dreeshen said. “It’s a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn’t provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he’d like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill — two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
“We haven’t had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said he’s looking for signs of “goodwill” from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
|
||||
|
||||
“I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let’s just gauge where we’re at with that first step and go from there,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
“At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario’s law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen’s idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
|
||||
|
||||
The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
|
||||
|
||||
“(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs,” the statement said, adding the government is “wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues.”
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
“I don’t know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school,” Kasawski told reporters.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario’s lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
“People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like,” Budnick said.
|
||||
|
||||
“We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It’s really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing.”
|
||||
|
||||
[Submit a Correction](https://calgary.citynews.ca/submit-corrections?post=3782985 "Submit a Correction")
|
||||
|
||||
[Accessibility Feedback](https://www.rogers.com/accessibility "Accessibility Feedback")
|
||||
|
||||
### Top Stories
|
||||
|
||||
   
|
||||
|
||||
### Top Stories
|
||||
|
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|
||||
|
||||
## Most Watched Today
|
||||
|
||||
0:22 
|
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|
||||
0:18 
|
||||
|
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1:53 
|
||||
|
||||
0:42 
|
||||
|
||||
1:14 
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://highriveronline.com/articles/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[HighRiverOnline]]"
|
||||
published:
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing. Devin Dreeshen says he's trying to avoid clashes with the government's goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://highriveronline.com/articles/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dreeshen is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he's trying to avoid clashes with the government's goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we've seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing," the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he's looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister's comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the "provincial road network," as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn't contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren't being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
"Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn't responsible planning," Dreeshen said. "It's a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn't provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he'd like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill -- two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
"We haven't had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said he's looking for signs of "goodwill" from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
|
||||
|
||||
"I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let's just gauge where we're at with that first step and go from there," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
"At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario's law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen's idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
|
||||
|
||||
The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
|
||||
|
||||
"(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs," the statement said, adding the government is "wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues."
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
"I don't know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school," Kasawski told reporters.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario's lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
"People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like," Budnick said.
|
||||
|
||||
"We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It's really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing."
|
||||
|
||||
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.
|
||||
|
||||
- Events
|
||||
- Jobs
|
||||
- Buy & Sell
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/transportation-minister-calls-edmonton-cancel-203122004.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAyZ2KQuBo1TJVnbYsj9NFR4z_nThXVM9JMvAwQKCfQgU6IzRiOTtfIo0fGXEzuLKgcsVBiwkKeZVlpK-eN20ITlthgk81QgSK7-HkjoExRQiPD344J5PwH6tHhgcLFnCwBx2GfkelAnHzgdOIK_XAR3jVNm-oZ27gcbt2cPYh51"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Yahoo Finance]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/transportation-minister-calls-edmonton-cancel-203122004.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAyZ2KQuBo1TJVnbYsj9NFR4z_nThXVM9JMvAwQKCfQgU6IzRiOTtfIo0fGXEzuLKgcsVBiwkKeZVlpK-eN20ITlthgk81QgSK7-HkjoExRQiPD344J5PwH6tHhgcLFnCwBx2GfkelAnHzgdOIK_XAR3jVNm-oZ27gcbt2cPYh51)
|
||||
|
||||
EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he's trying to avoid clashes with the government's goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we've seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing," the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he's looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister's comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the "provincial road network," as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn't contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren't being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
"Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn't responsible planning," Dreeshen said. "It's a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn't provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he'd like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill -- two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
"We haven't had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Try again.
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/other/transportation-minister-calls-on-edmonton-to-cancel-bike-lane-project-irking-critics/ar-AA1D85OY"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
published: 1751-12-07
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "EDMONTON — Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/other/transportation-minister-calls-on-edmonton-to-cancel-bike-lane-project-irking-critics/ar-AA1D85OY)
|
||||
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane/article_4d04adc9-b82e-599d-8d33-29c753932b7c.html"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Jack Farrell The Canadian Press]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "EDMONTON - Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making"
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane/article_4d04adc9-b82e-599d-8d33-29c753932b7c.html)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dreeshen is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
|
||||
|
||||
EDMONTON - Alberta’s transportation minister is calling on the province’s two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he’s trying to avoid clashes with the government’s goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta’s growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we’ve seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing,” the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the “provincial road network,” as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn’t contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren’t being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn’t provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he’d like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill — two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
“At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love.”
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario’s law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
“We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It’s really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing.”
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane"
|
||||
source: "https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane/article_841543cd-c5ed-5a8e-ac5b-99f0a5c5b702.html"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Jack Farrell The Canadian Press]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "EDMONTON - Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making"
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane](https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane/article_841543cd-c5ed-5a8e-ac5b-99f0a5c5b702.html)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dreeshen is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
|
||||
|
||||
EDMONTON - Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he's trying to avoid clashes with the government's goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we've seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing," the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
"When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he's looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister's comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the "provincial road network," as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic. Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn't contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren't being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
"Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn't responsible planning," Dreeshen said. "It's a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn't provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he'd like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill -- two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
"We haven't had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said he's looking for signs of "goodwill" from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
|
||||
|
||||
"I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let's just gauge where we're at with that first step and go from there," he said.
|
||||
|
||||
"At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love."
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario's law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen's idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
|
||||
|
||||
The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
|
||||
|
||||
"(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs," the statement said, adding the government is "wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues."
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
"I don't know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school," Kasawski told reporters.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario's lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
"People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like," Budnick said.
|
||||
|
||||
"We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It's really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing."
|
||||
|
||||
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Debate heats up over Edmonton bike lane project as Alberta minister calls for cancellation"
|
||||
source: "https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2025/04/17/debate-heats-up-over-edmonton-bike-lane-project/"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Leo Cruzat]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Tensions are rising in North Edmonton as a planned bike lane project along 132nd Avenue faces backlash from Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and some local residents. At a recent community meeting held at the Killarney Community League, Transport Minister Devin Dreeshen joined Edmonton City Councillor Karen Principe to express opposition to the current design of […]"
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Debate heats up over Edmonton bike lane project as Alberta minister calls for cancellation](https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2025/04/17/debate-heats-up-over-edmonton-bike-lane-project/)
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta's transport minister is calling Edmonton to cancel bike lane projects despite being faced with criticism from city councillors and residents for over reaching municipal projects. Leo Cruzat reports.
|
||||
|
||||
By
|
||||
|
||||
Tensions are rising in North Edmonton as a planned bike lane project along 132nd Avenue faces backlash from Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and some local residents.
|
||||
|
||||
At a recent community meeting held at the Killarney Community League, Transport Minister Devin Dreeshen joined Edmonton City Councillor Karen Principe to express opposition to the current design of the project, which would see dedicated bike lanes added between 66 Street and 97 Street—reducing the four-lane road to two lanes for vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
“Some people question that design—not necessarily having bike lanes—but people were concerned about the design having it on both sides of the road,” said Councillor Principe, who represents Ward tastawiyiniwak.
|
||||
|
||||
Minister Dreeshen went further, calling the plan “irresponsible” and stating that the province would like to see the project scrapped or significantly altered.
|
||||
|
||||
Despite his criticism, Dreeshen noted that the province continues to collaborate with the City of Edmonton on various infrastructure initiatives.
|
||||
|
||||
“We want to make sure that we are as connected as possible when it comes to a network that actually makes sense,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
However, not everyone agrees with the province’s involvement. Councillor Michael Janz, who represents Ward papastew, pushed back against what he sees as government overreach.
|
||||
|
||||
“I don’t think this is really about sidewalks or bike lanes at all. This is about misdirection,” Janz said. “The province frequently tells Edmonton to stay in our lane—it’s time for the Government of Alberta to stay in theirs too.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen defended the province’s position, insisting the issue is about practicality and proper planning, especially given Edmonton’s climate.
|
||||
|
||||
“Edmonton is a winter city,” he said. “We need road infrastructure so people can go to work, drop kids off at school, and ensure emergency vehicles can travel quickly and safely throughout the city. That’s smart civil engineering.”
|
||||
|
||||
Cara Hoffman, a local parent who drops her child off at a school along 132nd Avenue, supported the minister’s concerns.
|
||||
|
||||
“How are you going to convince parents that they should get their kids to bike to school?” Hoffman asked. “It’s a 10-minute drive from our house—is my child going to ride his bike for 45 minutes? And for how many months a year is that even feasible? He’s not going to ride his bike when it’s below zero.”
|
||||
|
||||
Still, others argue that the bike lane is a necessary step forward for safety and accessibility. Cyclist Kevin Wirtanen voiced support for the city’s plan.
|
||||
|
||||
“I do completely agree with the city planning for functional connectivity for all ages, all abilities—including kids and adults,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Despite the growing divide, Dreeshen confirmed the province is open to further discussions with the city to revisit the design and functionality of the 132nd Avenue project.
|
||||
|
||||
As the debate continues, the future of Edmonton’s bike lane network remains a hot topic—both at city hall and within Alberta’s provincial corridors.
|
||||
|
||||
[Submit a Correction](https://edmonton.citynews.ca/submit-corrections?post=703255 "Submit a Correction")
|
||||
|
||||
[Accessibility Feedback](https://www.rogers.com/accessibility "Accessibility Feedback")
|
||||
|
||||
### Top Stories
|
||||
|
||||
   
|
||||
|
||||
### Top Stories
|
||||
|
||||
   
|
||||
|
||||
## Most Watched Today
|
||||
|
||||
1:56 
|
||||
|
||||
2:33 
|
||||
|
||||
1:42 
|
||||
|
||||
2:50 
|
||||
|
||||
2:38 
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Edmonton bike lane project met with provincial opposition | CBC News"
|
||||
source: "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-bike-lane-project-met-with-provincial-opposition-1.7513587"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[CBC]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Tensions ran high during a town hall at the Killarney Community League in north east Edmonton, over the Alberta government's opposition to the city's plan to expand bike lanes as part of 132 Ave renewal."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Edmonton bike lane project met with provincial opposition | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-bike-lane-project-met-with-provincial-opposition-1.7513587)
|
||||
|
||||
[Edmonton](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton)
|
||||
|
||||
## Edmonton bike lane project met with provincial opposition
|
||||
|
||||
Tensions ran high during a town hall at the Killarney Community League in north east Edmonton, over the Alberta government's opposition to the city's plan to expand bike lanes as part of 132 Ave renewal.
|
||||
|
||||
## City exploring adding two more bike lanes for 132nd Avenue renewal
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Tensions ran high during a town hall at the Killarney Community League in north east Edmonton, over the Alberta government's opposition to the city's plan to expand bike lanes as part of 132 Ave renewal. (Mrinali Anchan/CBC)
|
||||
|
||||
Tensions ran high during a town hall meeting at the Killarney Community League in northeast Edmonton, over a city proposal to add more bike lanes in the area.
|
||||
|
||||
Close to two dozen people gathered for the meeting on Thursday — the same day that provincial Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen voiced his opposition to the city's plan to expand bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
"We'll be talking about smart infrastructure planning that doesn't sacrifice road functionality, because at the end of the day, our roads need to work for everyone," Dreeshen said Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
"Alberta's position is simple. We support bike lanes when they make sense, but we will not support tax dollars being used to reduce road capacity when we're trying to build a road network that meets the growing demand all across the province."
|
||||
|
||||
He also wrote a letter to Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe that was made public on Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
As part of its renewal plans for 132 Avenue, the city is exploring potentially creating two more bike lanes between 66th Street and 97th Street.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said about 7,000 vehicles use 132nd Avenue each day.
|
||||
|
||||
Principe, whose ward includes 132nd Avenue, said during the town hall she has received concerns from constituents on the reduction in car lanes from four to two to accommodate more bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm happy to hear that the Alberta government would like to collaborate and to ensure that we're designing good road function, making sure people can safely access all the amenities they need," Principe said.
|
||||
|
||||
Killarney resident Jeff Esteves voiced frustration during the town hall over what he sees as a lack of meaningful public consultation from the city.
|
||||
|
||||
"I was involved at meetings, public consultations from Day 1, but I can tell you that those consultations were sort of held in a way where decisions had already been made," Esteves said.
|
||||
|
||||
Esteves said he's opposed to adding bike lanes to the renewal project.
|
||||
|
||||
City council previously approved around $100 million to proceed with the active transportation network expansion as part of the 2023-2026 budget.
|
||||
|
||||
The 132nd Avenue renewal project is in its third year with current work focusing on reconstruction and paving of the roads, removal and replacement of public sidewalks, curbs, gutters and street lighting.
|
||||
|
||||
The entire renewal project, from Fort Road to 127th Street, is expected to take five years and be completed in fall 2027.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval. Ontario's law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
## Concerns of provincial overstepping
|
||||
|
||||
Other city councillors who attended the town hall expressed concern over the Alberta government wading into municipal matters.
|
||||
|
||||
"Why didn't they say, 'Hey, we've got some concerns'," said Coun. Aaron Paquette, who noted that the province brought their concerns to Principe, who then conveyed them to council at large.
|
||||
|
||||
"Can we work it out together in a good way, instead of this sabotage that, frankly, I think, might be a distraction from some of the other problems that they're having in the provincial level?"
|
||||
|
||||
Coun. Michael Janz told media he feels the minister's letter is inappropriate.
|
||||
|
||||
"To have a provincial minister come into one neighbourhood in Edmonton and start making pronouncements of this effect is deeply concerning and feels like an egregious overreach," Janz said.
|
||||
|
||||
While the addition of bike lanes has proven contentious across many major cities, [research indicates](https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319) that dedicated bike lanes are not behind perceived traffic congestion and adding more lanes for cars will not reduce congestion long term.
|
||||
|
||||
The YEG Bike Coalition released a letter on Thursday opposing the province's stance against bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
"The YEG Bike Coalition strongly opposes the province of Alberta's proposed interference with the City of Edmonton's 132 Avenue collector renewal project, specifically the effort to remove long-planned, community-supported bike lanes and revert to a dangerous, outdated road design," the letter states.
|
||||
|
||||
"Let's be clear: 132 Avenue is a city-owned residential collector road. It's not part of Alberta's provincial highway system. The province does not fund this project, nor does it maintain or operate this roadway."
|
||||
|
||||
With files from Canadian Press
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Inspired by Ontario? Alberta minister wants bike lanes gone"
|
||||
source: "https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/inspired-by-ontario-alberta-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone/"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Matt Hansen]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-23
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says cycling infrastructure is causing congestion in Edmonton and Calgary"
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Inspired by Ontario? Alberta minister wants bike lanes gone](https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/inspired-by-ontario-alberta-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone/)
|
||||
|
||||
Home > News
|
||||
|
||||
April 23, 2025
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says cycling infrastructure is causing congestion in Edmonton and Calgary
|
||||
Alberta’s transportation minister is pushing Calgary and Edmonton to eliminate bike lanes from major roads, sparking criticism that the province is meddling in city affairs and inventing a problem where none exists. Devin Dreeshen says the lanes contribute to traffic jams and are getting in the way of road expansion projects needed to support Alberta’s growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we’ve seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing,” the minister said to *[CP](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/urban-infrastructure/transportation-infrastructure/alberta-transportation-minister-wants-bike-lanes-gone-critics-say-stay-in-your-lane/ar-AA1D83uK?ocid=BingNewsSerp)*. “When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities.”
|
||||
|
||||
## Remove or cancel bike lanes
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen is urging Calgary and Edmonton to cancel or remove underused bike lanes, calling them costly and disruptive to traffic flow. In a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor, he targeted a $96-million bike lane project on 132 Avenue, saying it sacrifices vehicle lanes and affects the provincial road network — even though the province didn’t fund it. Dreeshen plans to meet with city councillors and flagged four other Edmonton bike lanes he believes should also be scrapped.
|
||||
|
||||
The proposal drew swift backlash from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP. Bike Edmonton said the minister should “stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs,” accusing the province of “wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues.”
|
||||
|
||||
## Overreach by the goverment?
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski echoed the sentiment, saying the government is overstepping.
|
||||
|
||||
“I don’t know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy group called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario’s lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
“People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like,” Budnick said. “We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure. It’s really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing.”
|
||||
|
||||
The move comes at a time when a high-profile fight over bike lanes is underway in Ontario, especially Toronto.
|
||||
|
||||
After months of threats to bike lanes, [an Ontario judge has issued an injunction halting their removal on Bloor Street West, Yonge Street and University Avenue in Toronto until a Charter challenge is resolved.](https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/judge-grants-injunction-pausing-toronto-bike-lane-removal/) Justice Paul Schabas cited “important and complex constitutional issues” in the case.
|
||||
|
||||
Bill 212, passed in November 2024, authorized the province to restore vehicle lanes and required municipal approval for new bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
Cycle Toronto, which is leading the legal challenge, hopes the province will reconsider based on data showing the benefits of bike infrastructure. Discussions between the city and province suggest a potential compromise may be possible.
|
||||
|
||||
However, none of this would have been possible if not for the pushback from cycling advocates.
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Noted: Taxes, Bill 50, Dreeshen's bike lane visit"
|
||||
source: "https://edmonton.taproot.news/briefs/2025/04/28/noted-taxes-bill-50-dreeshens-bike-lane-visit"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Stephanie Swensrude]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-28
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "The city's finalized property tax rate, the integrity commissioner's report, and the province targeting bike lanes were on the minds of the hosts of Episode 305 of Speaking Municipally."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[Noted: Taxes, Bill 50, Dreeshen's bike lane visit](https://edmonton.taproot.news/briefs/2025/04/28/noted-taxes-bill-50-dreeshens-bike-lane-visit)
|
||||
|
||||
The city’s finalized property tax rate, the integrity commissioner’s report, and the province targeting bike lanes were on the minds of the hosts of [Episode 305 of Speaking Municipally](https://speakingmunicipally.taprootedmonton.ca/305). Here’s a quick glimpse:
|
||||
|
||||
### 1\. Property tax rate finalized
|
||||
|
||||
The city finalized a 5.7% municipal property tax levy increase for 2025, which is 0.4% less than the increase approved in the fall. The “headline change” leading to the lower tax rate, according to co-host Mack Male, is thanks to changes to the provincial Grants in Placement of Taxes payments. However, the province is also [increasing the education property tax rate](https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2025/04/22/edmonton-property-tax-increase-2025/), so homeowners can expect to see an increase of 6% on their tax bill when that’s factored in.
|
||||
|
||||
“For the average property owner, basically, the (United Conservation Party) said, ‘We’re paying our taxes so you can reduce your property tax bill, and then increased your property tax bill,’” co-host Troy Pavlek said. Tax notices will be mailed on May 23, with property taxes due June 30.
|
||||
|
||||
### 2\. Integrity commissioner’s (final?) report
|
||||
|
||||
Council recently reviewed the integrity commissioner’s [annual report](https://pub-edmonton.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=a3dafbed-c47a-4bd3-8bd3-245f4ebd1d0c&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=29&Tab=attachments), which detailed that the commissioner investigated 35 complaints in 2024, 32 of which were related to the same incident. The report doesn’t detail what the incident was. The commissioner didn’t find any code of conduct breaches in any of the reported incidents.
|
||||
|
||||
Recently, Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver [introduced Bill 50](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-moves-to-eliminate-municipal-codes-of-conduct-1.7505306), which will repeal all municipal codes of conduct if passed into law. McIver said some councillors across Alberta have used the conduct codes to target other members of council. Pavlek said code of conduct complaints are rarely investigated, and when they are, the offending party is rarely sanctioned. “It’s enough to make one disillusioned with the process,” Pavlek said.
|
||||
|
||||
This is potentially the last integrity commissioner report, as it’s expected the UCP will use their majority to pass Bill 50 into law, Pavlek added.
|
||||
|
||||
### 3\. Provincial minister targets bike lanes
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen [visited Edmonton on April 17](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-bike-lane-project-met-with-provincial-opposition-1.7513587) to discuss the 132 Avenue NW renewal project, which will [turn the four-lane road into a narrower collector](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/here-s-why-edmonton-s-132nd-avenue-renewal-project-is-garnering-attention-1.6990066) with bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Dreeshen, who’s the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, said he’s opposed to bike lanes that take driving lanes away from vehicles and said Alberta could follow Ontario in requiring provincial approval for such projects.
|
||||
|
||||
Both co-hosts called the minister’s visit “bizarre.”
|
||||
|
||||
Pavlek said Dreeshen’s move was meant to distract Albertans from [the ongoing CorruptCare scandal](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-alberta-ousted-health-services-ceo-amid-probe-into-medical-contracts/) and [MLA Peter Guthrie’s removal from the UCP caucus](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/united-conservative-party-expels-mla-who-pushed-for-public-probe-of-health-contracting-1.7511960). “If you want to distract from a scandal in health care, there’s no more reliable way to get Albertans riled up than talking about bike lanes,” Pavlek said. “I think it’s transparently a distraction tactic.”
|
||||
|
||||
The [April 25 episode](https://speakingmunicipally.taprootedmonton.ca/305) of Taproot’s civic affairs podcast also discussed the mobile-only parking payment rollout, the municipal election, the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs, and more, and included an update from the Taproot newsroom. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all [right here](https://speakingmunicipally.taprootedmonton.ca/).
|
||||
25
Clippings ✂/index.md
Normal file
25
Clippings ✂/index.md
Normal file
@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
|
||||
# Summary of News Coverage: Provincial Intervention in Municipal Bike Lane Projects (April 2025)
|
||||
|
||||
In mid-April 2025, Alberta's Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, publicly voiced strong opposition to municipal bike lane projects in Edmonton and Calgary, specifically targeting Edmonton's 132 Avenue renewal project. Dreeshen argued that converting vehicle lanes to bike lanes exacerbates traffic congestion, is an inefficient use of taxpayer money, and negatively impacts the provincial road network, despite the 132 Avenue project being city-funded and on a city-owned road. He called for the cancellation or significant alteration of such projects and suggested Alberta might emulate Ontario's controversial legislation, which allows provincial oversight and removal of municipal bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
This stance drew immediate and widespread criticism. Edmonton city councillors, including Aaron Paquette and Michael Janz, along with the NDP opposition and cycling advocacy groups like Bike Edmonton and the YEG Bike Coalition, accused Dreeshen of provincial overreach into municipal jurisdiction. Critics also suggested the minister's focus on bike lanes was a distraction tactic from other pressing provincial issues. They emphasized the benefits of bike lanes for safety, accessibility, and sustainable transportation, and highlighted a lack of prior consultation from the province. Advocacy groups reiterated that projects like the 132 Avenue renewal were community-supported and long-planned. Despite the backlash, Dreeshen expressed willingness to discuss the matter with city councils but maintained that reducing road capacity for vehicles was "irresponsible planning." The "Speaking Municipally" podcast also covered these developments, framing Dreeshen's visit as a potential distraction.
|
||||
|
||||
## News Articles Index
|
||||
|
||||
Below is a list of collected news clippings related to this issue:
|
||||
|
||||
* [Noted: Taxes, Bill 50, Dreeshen's bike lane visit](./Noted%20Taxes,%20Bill%2050,%20Dreeshen's%20bike%20lane%20visit.md)
|
||||
* [Inspired by Ontario? Alberta minister wants bike lanes gone](./Inspired%20by%20Ontario%20Alberta%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone.md)
|
||||
* [Edmonton bike lane project met with provincial opposition | CBC News](./Edmonton%20bike%20lane%20project%20met%20with%20provincial%20opposition%20%20CBC%20News.md)
|
||||
* [Debate heats up over Edmonton bike lane project as Alberta minister calls for cancellation](./Debate%20heats%20up%20over%20Edmonton%20bike%20lane%20project%20as%20Alberta%20minister%20calls%20for%20cancellation.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (Canadian Press)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (The Spec)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%207.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (MSN)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%206.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (Yahoo Finance)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%205.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (HighRiverOnline)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%204.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (CityNews Calgary)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%203.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (NewmarketToday.ca)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%202.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane (Journal Of Commerce)](./Alberta%20transportation%20minister%20wants%20bike%20lanes%20gone,%20critics%20say%20stay%20in%20your%20lane%201.md)
|
||||
* [Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen calls on Edmonton to cancel bike lane project (Edmonton Journal)](./Alberta%20Transportation%20Minister%20Devin%20Dreeshen%20calls%20on%20Edmonton%20to%20cancel%20bike%20lane%20project.md)
|
||||
* [‘Stay in your own lane’: Critics irked as Alberta transportation asks to kill bike network plan | Globalnews.ca](./%E2%80%98Stay%20in%20your%20own%20lane%E2%80%99%20Critics%20irked%20as%20Alberta%20transportation%20asks%20to%20kill%20bike%20network%20plan%20%20%20Globalnews.ca.md)
|
||||
* [‘Insulting to Edmontonians’: Locals react to Alberta minister’s desire to cancel Edmonton bike lane projects (CTV News)](./%E2%80%98Insulting%20to%20Edmontonians%E2%80%99%20Locals%20react%20to%20Alberta%20minister%E2%80%99s%20desire%20to%20cancel%20Edmonton%20bike%20lane%20projects.md)
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "‘Insulting to Edmontonians’: Locals react to Alberta minister’s desire to cancel Edmonton bike lane projects"
|
||||
source: "https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/alberta-minister-calling-on-edmonton-to-cancel-bike-lanes/"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[CTVNews]]"
|
||||
published: 2025-04-17
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "Alberta’s transportation minister was in Edmonton to speak against the city’s construction of bike lanes along 132 Avenue in north Edmonton."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[‘Insulting to Edmontonians’: Locals react to Alberta minister’s desire to cancel Edmonton bike lane projects](https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/alberta-minister-calling-on-edmonton-to-cancel-bike-lanes/)
|
||||
|
||||
ADVERTISEMENT
|
||||
|
||||
[Edmonton](https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/)
|
||||
|
||||
By [Brittany Ekelund](https://www.ctvnews.ca/team/brittany-ekelund)
|
||||
|
||||
Updated:
|
||||
|
||||
Published:
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta’s transportation minister was in Edmonton to speak against the city’s construction of bike lanes along 132 Avenue in north Edmonton.
|
||||
|
||||
- [**Get the latest Edmonton updates right to your inbox**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/newsletters "https://www.ctvnews.ca/newsletters")
|
||||
|
||||
Minister Devin Dreeshen and Coun. Karen Principe teamed up to share their concerns over a road project along the avenue that includes building bike lanes between 66 Street and 97 Street.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen called it “irresponsible planning” to reduce the avenue by two lanes considering Edmonton’s recent population growth and the thousands of cars that use the avenue daily.
|
||||
|
||||
“Alberta’s position is simple. We support bike lanes when they make sense, but we will not support tax dollars being used to reduce road capacity,” he said, adding the province is concerned about how bike lanes will impact traffic flow from provincial roads like the Yellowhead onto Edmonton arteries.
|
||||
|
||||
Principe said she’s heard concerns from residents over the bike lanes and she’s excited to work with the province to address those concerns.
|
||||
|
||||
One area resident said he didn’t feel the city’s public consultations about the bike plans were done in good faith, and asked how the province could “get involved with reigning in some of this process.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said Thursday was the start of the process, with the province wanting to sit down with Calgary and Edmonton and talk about current or future plans that could reduce driving lanes in those cities.
|
||||
|
||||
Not everyone who attended the event shared the same worries.
|
||||
|
||||
“I’m concerned about the province’s potential overriding of Edmonton decisions on bike lanes,” said one woman. “Designated bike infrastructure is not only safer and more affordable to maintain than car infrastructure, but it also reduces traffic congestion and traffic related injuries and fatalities.”
|
||||
|
||||
At one point, Dreeshen was booed when he was asked if the province would also like to remove existing bike lanes and responded with, “I think that’s on the table.”
|
||||
|
||||
## ‘Sabotage’
|
||||
|
||||
Construction on the roadway renewal, which includes the bike lanes, began two years ago.
|
||||
|
||||
Coun. Aaron Paquette asked who is going to be footing the bill should the province decide to step in and put a stop to the project.
|
||||
|
||||
“We’ve already got contracts entered, the work has already begun. Is it going to be the taxpayer, the property taxpayer, who has to pay for that? Or is the province going to come in with money in order to help us do a redesign?”
|
||||
|
||||
Paquette added that the province has not reached out to the city with its concerns, with few councillors aware of Dreeshen’s visit that afternoon.
|
||||
|
||||
“Why didn’t they say, ‘Hey, we’ve got some concerns. Can we work it up together in a good way?” Paquette said. “Instead of the sabotage that, frankly, I think might be a distraction from some of the other problems that they’re having on a provincial level.”
|
||||
|
||||
In an email to CTV News Edmonton, Coun. Michael Janz said research shows traffic calming measures, which include shared-used pathways and bike lanes, save lives.
|
||||
|
||||
He called the traffic calming and road safety work being done by the city a matter of public safety, pointing to 26 traffic deaths and 129 serious injury collisions on Edmonton roads last year.
|
||||
|
||||
“I don’t know what this is about, to be writing a letter as the minister of the province to one city councilor,” Janz said after the meeting. “We don’t tell them where to buy their Tylenol. I don’t know why they’re telling us how to build our roads.”
|
||||
|
||||
Bike Edmonton also issued a response to Dreeshen, accusing the minister of “parachuting” himself into a local issue.
|
||||
|
||||
In a press release, Bike Edmonton said the Yellowhead conversion has increased car capacity just 350 meters from the proposed bike lanes and that the city has spent years consulting with affected communities on the road work.
|
||||
|
||||
“Earlier this month, Bike Edmonton surveyed Edmontonians if they would prefer reallocating taxes if it came at the expense of bike lane implementation,” Bike Edmonton president Keith Heslinga said in the release.
|
||||
|
||||
“The results are overwhelming: 81 per cent of survey respondents are not interested in cancelling or delaying the Bike Plan to save a couple of bucks on property taxes.
|
||||
|
||||
“Karen Principe and her fellow councillors were elected to decide on the priorities of the City of Edmonton’s capital construction. She is certainly entitled to be upset that council did not agree with her on that priority, but to bring in the MLA from Sylvan Lake to change our local decision making is insulting to Edmontonians.”
|
||||
|
||||
The City of Edmonton approved $100 million in the 2023-26 budget to expand its active transportation network, including bike lanes.
|
||||
|
||||
[** Report an Error](https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/alberta-minister-calling-on-edmonton-to-cancel-bike-lanes/)
|
||||
|
||||
[** Editorial standards & policies](https://www.ctvnews.ca/about-us/editorial-standards-and-policies)
|
||||
|
||||
[** Why you can trust CTV News](https://www.ctvnews.ca/about-us/editorial-standards-and-policies/#trust-and-ctv-news)
|
||||
|
||||
[](https://www.ctvnews.ca/app/?cid=proudlycanadian)
|
||||
|
||||
[](https://www.ctvnews.ca/newsletters/)
|
||||
@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "‘Stay in your own lane’: Critics irked as Alberta transportation asks to kill bike network plan | Globalnews.ca"
|
||||
source: "https://globalnews.ca/news/11138484/devin-dreeshen-edmonton-bike-lanes/"
|
||||
author:
|
||||
- "[[Global News]]"
|
||||
published: 2:00
|
||||
created: 2025-05-10
|
||||
description: "While the province didn't contribute anything to the nearly $96 million Edmonton project, Devin Dreeshen said the government funds other roads and more coordination is needed."
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- "clippings"
|
||||
---
|
||||
[‘Stay in your own lane’: Critics irked as Alberta transportation asks to kill bike network plan | Globalnews.ca](https://globalnews.ca/news/11138484/devin-dreeshen-edmonton-bike-lanes/)
|
||||
|
||||
[Politics](https://globalnews.ca/politics/)
|
||||
|
||||
## ‘Stay in your own lane’: Critics irked as Alberta transportation asks to kill bike network plan
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta Transportation trying to micromanaging city bike lane plans
|
||||
|
||||
Alberta’s transportation minister is calling on the province’s two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
|
||||
|
||||
Devin Dreeshen says he’s trying to avoid clashes with the government’s goal of expanding road networks, as he blames bike lanes for traffic congestion and obstructing work to build the infrastructure needed for Alberta’s growing population.
|
||||
|
||||
“When we are putting money towards projects to add and expand lanes to help accommodate the growth pressures that we’ve seen here in the province, we want to make sure that municipalities are doing the same thing,” the minister said in an interview Thursday.
|
||||
|
||||
> “When we see that municipalities are doing the opposite and are reducing and eliminating driving lanes for bike lanes, that obviously has the opposite effect of being able to accommodate for traffic growth across our two major cities.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen also said he’s looking to meet with councillors from Edmonton and Calgary to review bike lane spending.
|
||||
|
||||
The minister’s comments came after he posted a video and letter to an Edmonton councillor on social media outlining his request.
|
||||
|
||||
His letter specifically called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton’s north side.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen wrote in the letter that the project will have a negative impact on the “provincial road network,” as it comes at the expense of two lanes of vehicle traffic.
|
||||
|
||||
Construction began two years ago to repave the road and replace sidewalks, curbs and street lights.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
East Edmonton residents raise concerns over construction
|
||||
|
||||
While the province didn’t contribute any dollars to the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen said the United Conservative Party government should have a say because it provides funding for other municipal roads.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen, in the video, also said bike lanes in the cities aren’t being used enough to justify the cost and are taking up space meant for drivers, buses and emergency vehicles.
|
||||
|
||||
“Reducing road capacity on major corridors isn’t responsible planning,” Dreeshen said. “It’s a recipe for congestion delays and gridlock.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen couldn’t provide examples of which bike lanes or projects in Calgary he’d like to see removed or cancelled. But he said there are four other bike lanes in Edmonton that fit the bill — two in the downtown core, and lanes west and north of downtown.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Edmontonians frustrated by brand new but broken bike lanes
|
||||
|
||||
“We haven’t had that same level of digging yet on the Calgary side,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen said he’s looking for signs of “goodwill” from Edmonton and Calgary by postponing or cancelling projects as construction season gets underway.
|
||||
|
||||
“I hate to anticipate anything beyond that, but let’s just gauge where we’re at with that first step and go from there,” he said.
|
||||
|
||||
> “At the end of the day, the goal is to make life better and to make sure that people spend less time in traffic and more time at home doing the things that they love.”
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen added that Alberta could follow Ontario in legislating any new bike lane that comes from the removal of a vehicle lane would require provincial approval.
|
||||
|
||||
Ontario’s law, passed last year, also gave it the power to order municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstall traffic lanes. A Charter challenge has been launched against parts of the bill.
|
||||
|
||||
Dreeshen’s idea was quickly met by criticism from bike advocates and the Opposition NDP.
|
||||
|
||||
The non-profit bike shop Bike Edmonton said in a statement that the minister needs to stay in his lane and stop interfering in city planning.
|
||||
|
||||
“(Dreeshen) should stick to his knitting and butt out of municipal affairs,” the statement said, adding the government is “wasting precious taxpayer time and money parachuting themselves into local issues.”
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
North Edmonton residents react to bike lane debate
|
||||
|
||||
NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski agreed, saying the province is making an issue out of nothing and overstepping its jurisdiction.
|
||||
|
||||
“I don’t know what problem the minister has with kids riding bikes to school,” Kasawski told reporters.
|
||||
|
||||
Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with a cycling advocacy organization called the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the possibility of Alberta following Ontario’s lead is concerning.
|
||||
|
||||
“People should be free to get around however is convenient for them, whatever modal choice that looks like,” Budnick said.
|
||||
|
||||
“We all pay property taxes. We all pay for this infrastructure.
|
||||
|
||||
> “It’s really only fair and equitable that everyone has access to get around the city in the way of their choosing.”
|
||||
@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
|
||||
|
||||
The following repository is all the materials created for the Bike Coalition YEG. We welcome contirbutors!
|
||||
|
||||
## [Paths for People Take Action Page](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
## Organizations
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
### [Paths for People](https://pathsforpeople.org/) - [Bike Edmonton](https://bikeedmonton.ca/) - [YEG Bike Coalition](https://yegbike.info/)
|
||||
|
||||
## [Paths for People Take Action Page](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
## Print Materials:
|
||||
|
||||
Standard paper (8.5x11) size:
|
||||
@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Standard paper (8.5x11) size:
|
||||
|
||||
### [Other Materials](/Print%20Materials/index.md)
|
||||
|
||||
## [News Coverage](/Clippings%20✂/index.md)
|
||||
|
||||
**This page can be instantly converted to a standalone website using [Changemaker](https://gitea.bnkhome.org/bnkops/Changemaker)**
|
||||
|
||||
Hosted by [The Bunker Operations](bnkops.com)
|
||||
21
social.posts.md
Normal file
21
social.posts.md
Normal file
@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
|
||||
## Social Posts for Protecting Bike Lanes & Municipal Autonomy
|
||||
|
||||
**Post 1:**
|
||||
Our bike lanes are under threat from provincial overreach! 🚲 Edmonton & Calgary deserve to decide their own infrastructure. Stand for safe streets & municipal autonomy. Take action now! #YEGbike #YYCbike #BikeLanes #ProtectOurLanes #ABpoli
|
||||
👉 [https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
**Post 2:**
|
||||
Minister Dreeshen wants to scrap bike lane projects like the 132 Ave renewal in #YEG. This isn't just about bikes; it's about local decision-making. Make your voice heard! #SaveOurBikeLanes #HandsOffOurCities #ActiveTransportation
|
||||
🔗 [https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
**Post 3:**
|
||||
Did you know? Bike lanes improve safety, reduce congestion, & promote sustainable transport. Don't let the province dictate our city's future. Support #YEG & #YYC bike infrastructure. Act today! #BikeAdvocacy #UrbanMobility
|
||||
✊ [https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
**Post 4:**
|
||||
Inspired by Ontario's controversial laws, AB's Transportation Minister is targeting our local bike lanes. This is a critical moment for #Edmonton & #Calgary. Tell the province to stay in its lane! #BikeSafety #CommunityVoice #YEGbikeCoalition
|
||||
📢 [https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
|
||||
**Post 5:**
|
||||
The 132 Ave project in #YEG is city-funded & community-supported. Provincial interference threatens years of planning for safer, more accessible streets. Join us in defending our bike lanes! #MunicipalRights #PathsForPeople
|
||||
✍️ [https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/](https://pathsforpeople.org/initiatives/stand-for-safe-streets-municipal-autonomy/)
|
||||
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